Switchgear unit

ABSTRACT

A switchgear unit comprising two switching devices (1, 2) which are provided with a reversing combination, which switchgear unit is of simple design and allows easy assembly and disassembly by the customer. The reversing combination comprises an assembly which is composed of a support (3) and an anchor (4) and is inserted into slots (7, 8) in connecting side walls (5, 6) of the switching devices (1, 2). The anchor (4) prevents the contact carriers (10) of the switching devices (1, 2) from being released at the same time and, when one of the switching devices (1 or 2) is switched on, prevents the contact carrier (10) of the other switching device (2 or 1) from being released.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a switchgear unit comprising a firstswitching device and a second switching device which are jointlyprovided with a reversing combination.

RELATED TECHNOLOGY

DE 11 47 299 discloses a mechanical interlocking apparatus for areversing contactor for three-phase motors, which reversing contactor iscomposed of two electromagnets which are arranged side-by-side and haveassociated armatures which can move in a straight line for contactoperation. As an interlocking apparatus, one or more pendulums are inthis case arranged between the two electromagnets and its or their freeend or ends is or are provided with in each case two projections which,in the rest state, project slightly into the movement path of botharmatures and, when one of the electromagnets is energized, on the onehand is or are forced by the armature of said pulled-in electromagnetout of the movement path of said armature and, on the other hand, is orare pivoted--in a completely blocking manner--into the movement path ofthe other armature.

DE 24 40 361 B2 discloses a mechanical interlock by means of which partswhich move parallel, for example the switching heads of two contactors,can be mutually interlocked. The mechanical interlock has a T-shapedinterlocking piece with two opposite support pins which are held byelongated hole guide supports, which are each located in the movingparts to be interlocked. The housing of the mechanical interlockprojects into corresponding recesses in the housings, for example switchhousings, which contain the moving parts. The interlocking housing isarranged in the gap between the housings with the parts to be mutuallyinterlocked.

DE-AS 11 47 299 describes a mechanical interlocking apparatus for twoelectromagnets of a reversing contactor which are arranged side-by-side.In this case, two pendulums mounted between moving contact carriers,such that they can rotate. The free ends of the pendulums are broadenedby projections which allow straight-line movement of in each case only asingle contact carrier, while the other one is held in the rest positionby the projection, which is forced into its movement path.

DE 41 42 179 A1 discloses a mechanical interlocking device. Once again,a plurality of contactors which are mounted side-by-side are intended tobe operated in such a manner that, when one contactor has been switchedon, it is impossible to switch the other contactor. To this end, twolocking catches are mounted in the mutually facing side surfaces, whichrest against one another, of the contactors, of which locking catches,the one locking catch can be pivoted out of its original position by thedrive element of the one contactor, and the other locking catch can bepivoted out of its original position by the drive element of the othercontactor, in such a manner that the first of the two locking catches tobecome soiled blocks the other locking catch until the first lockingcatch has returned to its original position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a switchgearunit which is of simple design and accordingly allows simple assemblyand disassembly. A further aim of the present invention is to avoid anyrisk of soiling, for example through openings on the front of theswitching devices. It is intended that the reversing combination shouldbe fitted with as little change as possible to the device design.

The main object according to the invention is achieved by a switchgearunit as claimed in the features The present invention therefore providesa switchgear unit having a first and a second switching device and areversing combination. The reversing combination in this case comprisesa support and an anchor which is mounted in this support such that itcan pivot. A first connecting side wall of the first switching device isconnected to a second connecting side wall of the second switchingdevice. The connecting side walls have opposite first slots, into whichthe support is inserted. In this case, the two switching devices areoperated at the same time, the anchor engages in the contact carriers ofboth switching devices and prevents both switching devices from beingswitched on, while, when one of the two switching devices is operated,the anchor is pressed into the contact carrier of the other switchingdevice and interlocks it.

An advantageous development of the present invention results if the twoswitching devices are connected by connecting elements which engage likebrackets around the ribs on the switching devices.

Advantageously, the connecting elements have two outer limbs forengaging around the connecting side walls, as well as a center pin whichengages in a positively locking manner in a recess which is formed bythe connecting side walls.

It is furthermore advantageous if the support is designed to beshape-coded and the first slots are matched to the shape coding in orderto accommodate the support. This ensures that the assembly comprisingthe support and the anchor is fitted in the correct orientation. This isnecessary in order that, when the mechanical reversing combination isbeing fitted, the connecting side walls (which match one another forthis purpose) of the two switching devices are connected. The positionof the contact carriers in the two switching devices is ensured only tothe extent that the armature actually engages in the free space of onecontact carrier or the other of the two switching devices, depending onthe pivoted position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is explained in moredetail in the following text with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows two switching devices which are to be connected to areversing combination,

FIG. 2 shows a switching chamber of the switching devices according toFIG. 1, with an associated connecting element,

FIG. 3 shows an outline sketch with the contact carriers of the twoswitching devices according to FIG. 1 and the position of an anchorduring a process in which the two switching devices are being switchedon at the same time,

FIG. 4 shows the two contact carriers of the two switching devices whenone of the switching devices is being switched on, and the otherswitching device is interlocked,

FIG. 5 shows the positioning of a support and anchor of two switchingdevices which are connected to one another,

FIG. 6 shows the basic position and design of slots in the two switchingdevices according to FIG. 1 for accommodating a shape-coded support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a first switching device 1 and a second switching device 2,for example contactors, which can be connected to one another to form aswitchgear unit having a reversing combination 3, 4. The two switchingdevices 1 and 2, which each have a contact carrier which is notillustrated here but has moving contacts, are connected a firstconnecting side wall 5 and a second connecting side wall 6 of the twoswitching devices 1 and 2. The reversing combination has a support 3 andan anchor 4 which is mounted in this support 3 such that it can pivot.The support 3 is inserted into opposite first slots 7 in the first sidewall 5 and the second side wall 6. Second slots 8 are provided in thefirst connecting side wall 5 and in the second connecting side wall 6 inthe pivoting range of the armature 4, via which second slots 8 theanchor 4 can engage in cutouts 9 in the contact carriers 10, as will beexplained in more detail below.

The mounting of the support 3 and anchor 4 in side first slots 7 andsecond slots 8 results in the advantage that, irrespective of whetherthey are used in conjunction with a reversing combination, the switchingdevices 1 and 2 can operate without any opening at the front, and thedevice design can remain unchanged. In addition, risk of soiling in thisembodiment is low.

The two switching devices 1 and 2 are assembled to form a switchgearunit having a reversing combination by inserting the support 3 and theanchor 4 into the first slots 7 and the second slots 8 provided for thispurpose in the connecting side walls 5 and 6, and by subsequentlyconnecting the switching devices 1 and 2 by means of special connectingelements which in this case are designed as brackets 11. As shown inFIG. 2, the brackets 11 each have two limbs 12 and a center pin 13. Ribs14, which in this case are part of the switching chamber 16 of therespective switching device 1 or 2, project from the top and bottom ofthe switching devices 1 and 2. When in each case one bracket 11 ispushed onto the top or bottom, the center pin 13 engages in a positivelylocking manner in a recess 15 formed by the ribs 14, and the two limbs12 engage behind the ribs 14 from their outside. In the process, thelimbs 12 latch behind the ribs 14. The regions which interact in thisprocess are joined by a line. Assembly, and disassembly in the oppositesequence, of the switchgear unit can be carried out easily.

The principle of operation of the reversing combination can beillustrated by FIGS. 3 and 4. The contact carriers 10 are illustratedhere, for example those of the two switching devices 1 and 2 mentionedabove. The position of the anchor 4 governs the operation of thereversing combination. If both switching devices are switched on at thesame time, the anchor 4 forms a lock. It engages in the cutouts 9 in thecontact carriers 10, as shown in FIG. 3, and prevents switching on.

During the process of switching on only one of the switching devices 1or 2, the anchor 4 is pressed into the cutout 9 in the other switchingdevice 2 or 1, and interlocks this other switching device 2 as shown inFIG. 4. The reversing combination 3 and 4 accordingly ensures that thetwo switching devices 1 and 2 are never both in the switched-on state.

The two switching devices 1 and 2, which are preferably of the samedesign, each have a first slot 7 adjacent to one of its side walls 5,for accommodating the assembly comprising the anchor 4 and the support3, as shown in see FIG. 5. In the installed state, only a small part ofthe assembly 3 and 4 projects out of the side wall 5, as illustrated inFIG. 1. On the other hand, the contact carrier 10 is closely adjacent tothe opposite parallel side walls 6 in order that the anchor 4 enters itsfree space 9 after only a small pivoting movement. The design thusnecessitates the reversing combination being produced with theconnecting side wall 5 of the switching device 1 being connected to theconnecting side wall 6 of the second switching device 2. In order toensure this, the support 3 is shape-coded by being designed in the formof a hammer head, and the first slots 7 in the connecting side walls 5and 6 are designed as a match, such that they are accommodated in apositively locking manner in the support 3, as is indicated in FIG. 6.The shape coding guarantees that the mechanical reversing combination isfitted in the correct orientation.

What is claimed:
 1. A switchgear unit comprising:a first switchingdevice including a first contact carrier and a first connecting sidewall; a second switching device including a second contact carrier and asecond connecting side wall; a reversing combination being jointlyprovided to the first and second switching devices, the reversingcombination including a support and an anchor, the anchor beingpivotally mounted in the support; the first switching device beingconnected via its first connecting side wall to the second connectingside wall of the second switching device; the first and secondconnecting side walls including opposite first slots for receiving thesupport; the first and second connecting side walls including oppositesecond slots for receiving the anchor; wherein when the first and secondswitching devices are operated simultaneously, the anchor engages thefirst and second contact carriers and prevents both the first and secondswitching devices from being switched on; and wherein when one of thefirst and second switching devices is operated, the anchor is pressedinto and interlocks the contact carrier of the other switching device.2. The switchgear unit as recited in claim 1 further comprisingconnecting elements connecting the first and second switching devices,and wherein the first and second switching devices further include ribs,the connecting elements engaging the ribs in a bracket-like manner. 3.The switchgear unit as recited in claim 1 further comprising connectingelements connecting the first and second switching devices, theconnecting elements including two outer limbs for engaging the first andsecond connecting side walls and a center pin, and wherein the first andsecond connecting walls form a recess, the center pin engaging therecess in a positive locking manner.
 4. The switchgear unit as recitedin claim 2 wherein the first and second connecting side walls form arecess, and wherein the connecting elements include two outer limbs forengaging the first and second connecting side walls and a center pin,the center pin engaging the recess in a positive locking manner.
 5. Theswitchgear unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the support isshape-coded, the first slots being matched to the shape coding.
 6. Theswitchgear unit as recited in claim 2 wherein the support isshape-coded, the first slots being matched to the shape coding.
 7. Theswitchgear unit as recited in claim 3 wherein the support isshape-coded, the first slots being matched to the shape coding.
 8. Theswitchgear unit as recited in claim 4 wherein the support isshape-coded, the first slots being matched to the shape coding.